 SentinelPremium
join:2001-02-07
Florida
kudos:1 | Are AES and WPA2 compatible? This should have a quick answer.
Are WPA-PSK-AES and WPA2-PSK compatible?
Meaning if you have a router that does WPA2-PSK and you have a client that will do WPA-PSK-AES will it work? Or are WPA2 and AES different enough that they are not compatible with each other? |
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 GelroosMad MagePremium
join:2003-05-23
Washington, DC | I believe WPA2 uses AES..So yes, I would guess they are "compatible" |
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 AnavSarcastic Llama? Naw, Just AcerbicPremium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS
kudos:3 | reply to Sentinel
Yes for most purposes it is the same thing.
WPA + PSK -- TKIP
WPA2 + PSK -- CCMP (which uses AES) |
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1 edit | reply to Sentinel
There is a specific flag (and OID query/status) sent out in a beacon frame which advertises the device as a WPA or WPA2 device. The two devices both have to have this flag enabled in the driver to register with each other as WPA2. If a device does not have the flag, then even though it can do WPA-AES, it may not (in my experience it wouldn't) connect to a device broadcasting itself as WPA2 - even though the encryption levels are the same.
Here are some links to articles at Microsoft that explain the "OID Capability" and the settings that need to be coded in drivers and firmware for devices to share (broadcast, communicate) if they are using WEP, WPA or WPA2 (make sure you look at the "Encryption Level" for WPA-AES and WPA2-AES), and another article regarding the WPA2-AES key process.
»msdn.microsoft.com/library/defau···.xml.asp
»www.microsoft.com/technet/commun···805.mspx
Hope this helps,
Birds |
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 Scott WPremium
join:2003-08-09
Beaverton, OR | said by Birds0:There is a specific flag (and OID query/status) sent out in a beacon frame which advertises the device as a WPA or WPA2 device. The two devices both have to have this flag enabled in the driver to register with each other as WPA2. If a device does not have the flag, then even though it can do WPA-AES, it may not (in my experience it wouldn't) connect to a device broadcasting itself as WPA2 - even though the encryption levels are the same. It must depend on the device and how they implement WPA2. I have a Linksys WRT54G (firmware v4.20.6) which, in WPA2 mode with TKIP+AES encryption setting, will allow either WPA2 or WPA connections from clients set for AES encryption.
I remember a version of the firmware that differentiated between "WPA2 shared only" and "WPA2 shared" but the current firmware does not. I'm assuming they are really using WPA2 Mixed Mode which, according to wi-fi.org, is an optional mode of operation allowing both WPA and WPA2 connections to the same AP. |
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SentinelPremium
join:2001-02-07
Florida
kudos:1 | reply to Birds0
So then it would seem that the answer is ... technically no but maybe. Technically if both devices are following strict adherence to the standard then they should not be able to connect and communicate with each other if one is using WPA-AES and the other is using WPA2-AES (both PSK, no server). However since some devices do not conform strictly to the standard then communication may be possible.
Does that sound like I have it right? |
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| Probably more likely that the router firmware is coded to search for all the flavors of WPA and then connect accordingly. |
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 AuthorityObama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Woodland Hills, CA | reply to Scott W
I have the new Talisman 1.1 firmware from Sveasoft on a WRT54G v2 router set for WPA2. My Windows XP clients see it as WP2, but my Mac OS clients, which DO support WPA2, indicate it's just WPA. Suggestions?
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Economically, militarily, politically, and culturally irrelevant… Canada! |
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